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Marquis placed on DL with elbow soreness

The Nationals placed right-hander Jason Marquis on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with bone chips in his right elbow.

The team will recall right-hander Luis Atilano from Triple-A Syracuse after Thursday’s game, and he will make his Major League debut against the Dodgers the following day at Nationals Park.

The news comes three days after Marquis became the first starter in Nationals history to not record an out in a game. Marquis threw 28 pitches, 13 strikes, in that tough start, and he has given up 19 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings for Washington this season.

“It’s hard to pitch with [bone chips] in the elbow,” said general manager Mike Rizzo. “He was probably trying to gut it out. In my opinion, [the injury] probably has something to do with his poor performance.”

After Sunday’s game, Marquis insisted that he wasn’t injured. Even manager Jim Riggleman wondered if something was wrong.

“It’s an embarrassment, what I’m doing out there right now,” Marquis said on Sunday. “I have to find that answer quick. It’s just not happening right now. I don’t think there is anything behind the ball. I don’t feel any power, any feel of a release point to get the ball where I want it right now. I have to find a way to get it done. I don’t think my delivery is where I want it to be. I have no excuses. I just want to get it done. That’s all it comes down to.”

Marquis threw bullpen sessions the two days following his previous start, but his elbow became stiff by Tuesday night. Marquis informed the team Wednesday morning and had an MRI and an arthrogram. Marquis will see Dr. Tim Kremchek, the Reds’ medical director, for a second opinion.

“The trainer took a look at it and called our team doctor, and we got him in to get an MRI,” Rizzo said. “It showed there are some floating bodies in the elbow. We are going to get a second opinion.”

Atilano, 24, has pitched in two games for Triple-A Syracuse, and has given up two runs in 11 innings for the Chiefs. He was acquired from the Braves in 2006 for first baseman Daryle Ward. At the time of the trade, Atilano was recovering from elbow reconstruction, but he went a combined 9-8 with a 4.01 ERA for Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse last season.

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